Dexter Southfield Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DEXTER SOUTHFIELD SCHOOL HELPS BOYS AND GIRLS DEVELOP THEIR INDIVIDUALTALENTS AND BUILD AN ETHICAL FOUNDATION FOR LIFE. STUDENTS LEARN TO LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE, SERVE WITH COMPASSION, AND LIVE BY THE MOTTO, "OUR BEST TODAY, BETTER TOMORROW."
- Income
- $85.0 million
- Spending
- $64.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 471
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $686,168, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $45.5 million spent. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION TO BOYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12.
- $7.8 million spent. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES STUDENTS AID IN THE FORM OF GRANTS FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL.
- $2.0 million spent. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS SUMMER DAY CAMPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.